Next Food Network Star

Dear Diary
This whole crazy roller coaster started back in October last year when I went to an open call. Although I was the first to get the boot, I am so proud of myself that I had enough guts to get up and try out for this. I will never be able to ask myself “what if” because I did it. I went after this and I landed a spot in the top ten out of thousands of applicants. I’m so lucky to have a seat on this crazy ride.

Ugh, so yes, I was the first one to be kicked off and I’m not going to pretend that it’s all good, because it’s not! Being kicked off first was the ONE thing I did not want to happen and I must admit I was completely blindsided. I honestly don’t know why I went home. The whole final portion of the elimination process was a complete blur. I remember burying myself into Eddie’s chest and trying my best not to “ugly cry.” I had my mind set from the beginning to be who I was and not pretend to be anything that I wasn’t. I represented my culinary point of view. I LIKED my green beans. I have not had green beans since that day, but that night I liked them! I guess I could have been a little more animated in my presentation and given them more “Jen” I guess. But at the end of the day they had to send someone home that they only met for maybe 20 minutes. I was the fall guy. I was who I was, and if they aren’t looking for me then that’s ok.

In my short time on the show, it was no less than a chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to meet all the Food Network chefs and even be interviewed by Nancy O’Dell was something that only a handful of people in this world will ever get to experience, and I am one of them! Just regular old Jen Isham got to do this. I’m going to miss the feeling of waking up in the morning and wondering what is going to happen and the hope that “wow” I could maybe win this whole thing. Not having the “what could happen” feeling is something that I’m struggling with. But hey, at least I don’t have to keep this secret and keep avoiding answering questions anymore! My Dad finally knows the big secret. I’m going to miss the nine friends that I made too. Katie, Debbie, Jamika, Melissa, Teddy, Eddie, Jeffrey, Michael and Brett will be these nine random people that shared the most exciting adventure I have - and mostly likely will - ever experience. They will always have this crazy special place in my heart.

So what’s next? I know with absolute certainty that I am meant to get back to food. It is now my goal to get my Housewife 2.0 way of life out there to the masses. I am hell bent on finishing a Housewife 2.0 cookbook/guide for the modern gals out there. Look for me on The New York Times best sellers list! It’s not that far-fetched. After all, I have said I was going to be on Food Network for the past five years. I did that. So if I set out to have a best-selling cookbook, I bet I can do that too. Right after I cook Gabe dinner.